New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-13
BALFOUR HARD PRESSED.
TRYING TO OFFEND HIS IRISH COURSE.
ruE DEBATE OVER THE MITcHELsrowN OUTRAGE
aEGUN IN THE CoMMoNs-sPEECHEs BY SIR
WILLIAM VERNON HARCoURT, BAL
FOUR, LABoUCHERE AND


WILLIAM VERNON HARCoURT, BAL
FOUR, LABoUCHERE AND
GLADSTONE.
LONDON, Sept 12.-Mr Gladstone arrived IN
London today from Hawarden in order to attend
the debate in the House of Commons tonight
over the shooting Of citizens by the police
of Mitchelstown on Friday. AS Mr.. Gladstone
entered the House this afternoon he was greeted
with cheers by many thousand persons who had
gathered near the Parliament buildings In anuc-
pation of the discussion.
On motion that the House go into Commit
tee on the Appropriation bill Sir William Yer
non Harcourt, Liberal called attention to the
general policy of the Government in Ireland,
especially to the invasion of the rights of the
people respecting the holding of public meet
ings He demanded that the House be informed
of the nature Of the instructions given to the
police in Ireland regarding the line of action
they are to pursue with respect TO public meet
ings; also whether the report was true that
General Sir Redvers Butler had resigned his
post of Under Secretary for Ireland and what
we're the reasons for his resignation. He claimed
that the Irish people possessed in common with
the English people the right to meet and de-
nounce the action of the legislative branch of
the Government. and declared that attempts
to prevent the holding of such meetings vio-
und were llagrant breach and denial of the
fundamental principles of both and were wholly
incompatible With the existence of free govern
ment the rights OF a free people. Some
Tory journals had suggested that machine guns
ought to be used against the Irish people. tCries
of what parer?") "The St. James's Gazette"
answered the speaker, adding, "a typical Tory
organ" The most detestable and scandalous
language has been used by The Times" Sir
william went on, for the express purpose OF
driving the Irish to revolt-language such as
never before degraded the press of free coun-
try If the advice of the UniOnist press had
been followed, what between machine suns,
evictions and Tory landlords very few
Irish people would be left"
He was confident, the speaker said, that the
Irish people would persist in the prudence and
calmress they had already exhibited. If any
thing was dear to the English it was the right
of public meeting. which the Government was
now trampling upon. Let the Government try
the experiment of their new doctrine upon the
people of England. The country would make
short work of them. The heart of England was
with the Irish in vindicating the right of pub
lie meeting and would support them until JUS
tice was DONE Meetings must continue TO be
held in all parts Of Ireland. Varnelhte
cheers.) II there one lesson in the history
of politics which was taught more than another
it was that cause which could not bear open
discussion was already lost. tCheers) The
Governments dread of public meetings would
seal down their J;ish policy.
Mr. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland
MR. BALFoUR STATES CASE.
replyng to Sir William Vernon Harcourt, said
that the instructions the police were now acting
under were the same they had received when
Sir William was q member of the Gladstone
Government. (Cheers) With regard TO Cen
eral Butler, Mr.. Balfour said he had always
acted in perfect harmony with the present Gov
ernment. His appointment Under Secretary
for Ireland only temporary and he resigned
now simply because he desired not TO delay his
return to the War Office. Cries of "Ohl OH"
from the Parnellites) If any supposed that
General Buffers retirement was due in the
slightest degree to a difference Of opinion with
him (NIr Balfour the suppOsitiOn was abso-
iutely fal.e Referring TO Sir Williams con-
tention that the suppression of public meet
incs was illegal, Mr. Balfour said he did not
know at what period Sir William lost his know-
edge OF law hut it was a matter of history that
onder the common law of Ireland Sir William
himself acted with Gladstone and Forster in
proclaiming 100 meetings. (Cheers.) 1t was
again and again stated when these meetings
were proclaimed that the act of 1882 did not
contain any new powers. The question really
was not whether the Governments action was
legal, but whether it was polite. An import
INT element to consider was the condition OF the
district of Ennis, notorious centre OF agrarlan
rne 1t was absurd to describe such meetings
rs being for free discussion. They were her
aided by placards of an inflammatory nature,
and it was obviously their object TO defeat the
law and foster outrages and intimidation.
Regard ing the Mitchell town affair, MIR. Bal
four said it had been clearly ascertained that
the action Of the police was in the face of ex-
treme provocatOn. Cries of "Ohl Oh!") The
police were assaulted with stones and black
thorn sticks before they drew their batons.
Cries of moi Non and Hearl Hearl") IL
vas not till they were thrown into disorder by
he charge of the horsemen. which knocked
lown and wounded number and forced the
est to fly for their lives that the police fired
II was absolutely necessary for them TO fire 10
protect the barracks and the unfortunate police
rragelers outside. Cries of "Ohi OH" and
shsers.) The firing not the random firing
II men in panic, but deliberate act under
he order Of their commanding officer
ie maintained that the conduct of the police
andy justified and that they were in way to
clame, the sole responsibility resting upon those
who cOnvOked the meeting. lCheers. Sir Will
lam had his lips the words liberty. justice and
free Speech but the actual weapons he and his
friends used in the Irish contest were obstruction
In Parliament and resistance to the law outside
violence, and intimidation worse than violence.
lCheers.l Did the Opposition mean to further in
dame the passions OF the Irish, driving them
into resistance 10 the law OF liberty founded
upon order that was once dear TO both parties in
the State He appealed to them to have regard
for the community whose lives and properties were
counters with which Sir William playing q
political game lCheers.I The Government did
not waycr in their policy. They believed that
firm administration of the law and determination
TO do their utmost to remove the evils fomenting
discomfort would bring TO Ireland united people.
They knew that they must expect little assistance
from the Opposition but uDdismayed by criticism
and with courage unsbaken. they would persevere
In the course that must end IN the c0nciliaton OF
Ireland Loud cheers
Mr. Labouchere said that he had been in posi-